Patents by Inventor Wally Barnum

Wally Barnum has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10591798
    Abstract: A method of controlling smart windows with dynamic tenancy, performed by a control system is provided. The method includes coupling a control system having a plurality of smart windows each having one or more electrochromic devices, to a plurality of remote devices, and managing, in the control system, configurable smart window groups each having in membership one or more of the plurality of smart windows. The method includes managing, in the control system, configurable user groups each having in membership one or more of a plurality of users in association with the smart window groups, and controlling transmissivity of the electrochromic devices of the plurality of smart windows in accordance with the configurable smart window groups, the configurable user groups and the plurality of remote devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: KINESTRAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Paul Nagel, Wally Barnum, Jason Litzinger, William O'Dell
  • Patent number: 10579842
    Abstract: A smart driver system for electrochromic devices is provided. The system includes at least one smart driver having one or more processors, memory and a communication module. The at least one smart driver is configurable to couple to or integrate with one or more smart windows having electrochromic devices. The at least one smart driver is configurable to input identification information from a plurality of self-identifying components of a smart window system, including the one or more smart windows, and to self-initialize or self-adjust a plurality of operating parameters for operation of the self-identifying components in accordance with the identification information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Kinestral Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Wally Barnum, Doug Brainard, Steve Coffin, Paul Nagel
  • Publication number: 20200067870
    Abstract: A cloud learning system for smart windows is provided. The system includes at least one server configured to couple via a network to a plurality of window systems, each of the plurality of window systems having at least one control system and a plurality of windows with electrochromic windows and sensors, wherein the at least one server includes at least one physical server or at least one virtual server implemented using physical computing resources. The at least one server is configured to gather first information from the plurality of window systems, and configured to gather second information from sources on the network and external to the plurality of window systems. The at least one server is configured to form at least one rule or control algorithm usable by a window system, based on the first information and the second information, and configured to download the at least one rule or control algorithm to at least one of the plurality of window systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Inventors: Paul Nagel, Wally Barnum, Stephen Coffin, Brandon Nichols, Ashish Nagar, Kamil Bojanczik, Jonathan Ziebarth
  • Patent number: 10539860
    Abstract: A wall controller is provided. The wall controller includes a projection screen having an input device and a projector, wherein the projector has an optical axis that is non-orthogonal to the projection screen. The wall controller includes a housing having the projector at an end of the housing. The housing is dimensioned to fit the end of the housing through an aperture in a first wall, fit the end into a wall space between the first wall and a second wall, and fit a majority of another end of the housing into the aperture until the projection screen is parallel to a surface of the first wall and a front portion of the projection screen is flush with, recessed in or extends from the surface of the first wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Kinestral Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Antoine Dubois, John Bogdan, Paul Nagel, Craig Henricksen, Stephen Coffin, Wally Barnum
  • Patent number: 10425376
    Abstract: A cloud learning system for smart windows is provided. The system includes at least one server configured to couple via a network to a plurality of window systems, each of the plurality of window systems having at least one control system and a plurality of windows with electrochromic windows and sensors, wherein the at least one server includes at least one physical server or at least one virtual server implemented using physical computing resources. The at least one server is configured to gather first information from the plurality of window systems, and configured to gather second information from sources on the network and external to the plurality of window systems. The at least one server is configured to form at least one rule or control algorithm usable by a window system, based on the first information and the second information, and configured to download the at least one rule or control algorithm to at least one of the plurality of window systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Kinestral Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Nagel, Wally Barnum, Stephen Coffin, Brandon Nichols, Ashish Nagar, Kamil Bojanczik, Jonathan Ziebarth
  • Publication number: 20190257143
    Abstract: A smart window-based security system is provided. The system includes a plurality of smart windows, each smart window of the plurality of smart windows having at least one electrochromic window and at least one sensor integrated into the smart window. The plurality of smart windows are coupled together in a system having at least one processor configured to detect a personal or property security threat, such as an intruder or fire based, on information from sensors of the plurality of smart windows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Inventors: Paul Nagel, Wally Barnum, Stephen Coffin, Brandon Nichols, Antoine Dubois
  • Patent number: 10372007
    Abstract: A dual rail driver for an electrochromic device is provided. The dual rail driver includes a power supply having a first power supply rail and a second power supply rail and an H bridge connected to the first power supply rail and the second power supply rail and configurable to couple to an electrochromic device. The dual rail driver includes a controller coupled to the H bridge through a failsafe module and configurable to control switches of the H bridge to charge and discharge the electrochromic device from the first power supply rail and the second power supply rail. The failsafe module is configurable to override one or more signals from the controller that controls the switches of the H bridge through the failsafe module, responsive to detecting anomaly of the electrochromic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Kinestral Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Nagel, Wally Barnum, Doug Brainard
  • Publication number: 20190213364
    Abstract: A smart driver system for electrochromic devices is provided. The system includes at least one smart driver having one or more processors, memory and a communication module. The at least one smart driver is configurable to couple to or integrate with one or more smart windows having electrochromic devices. The at least one smart driver is configurable to input identification information from a plurality of self-identifying components of a smart window system, including the one or more smart windows, and to self-initialize or self-adjust a plurality of operating parameters for operation of the self-identifying components in accordance with the identification information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2019
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Inventors: Wally Barnum, Doug Brainard, Steve Coffin, Paul Nagel
  • Patent number: 10316581
    Abstract: A smart window system is provided. The system includes a plurality of smart windows, each having at least one electrochromic window and a plurality of sensors. The system includes a control system coupling the plurality of smart windows and the plurality of sensors. The control system is configured to couple to a network, and configured to generate a building model that includes information regarding the plurality of smart windows and is based on information from the plurality of sensors and information from the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Kinestral Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Nagel, Wally Barnum, Stephen Coffin, Brandon Nichols, Antoine Dubois
  • Patent number: 10280682
    Abstract: A smart window-based security system is provided. The system includes a plurality of smart windows, each smart window of the plurality of smart windows having at least one electrochromic window and at least one sensor integrated into the smart window. The plurality of smart windows are coupled together in a system having at least one processor configured to detect a personal or property security threat, such as an intruder or fire based, on information from sensors of the plurality of smart windows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Kinestral Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Nagel, Wally Barnum, Stephen Coffin, Brandon Nichols, Antoine Dubois
  • Patent number: 10210368
    Abstract: A smart driver system for electrochromic devices is provided. The system includes at least one smart driver having one or more processors, memory and a communication module. The at least one smart driver is configurable to couple to or integrate with one or more smart windows having electrochromic devices. The at least one smart driver is configurable to input identification information from a plurality of self-identifying components of a smart window system, including the one or more smart windows, and to self-initialize or self-adjust a plurality of operating parameters for operation of the self-identifying components in accordance with the identification information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Kinestral Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Wally Barnum, Doug Brainard, Steve Coffin, Paul Nagel
  • Publication number: 20180143501
    Abstract: A method of controlling tint for a plurality of electrochromic devices, performed by a control system, is provided. The method includes receiving a request to change tint level of a plurality of electrochromic devices, and consulting transfer functions for tint level relative to drive for each of the plurality of electrochromic devices, wherein at least one of the plurality of electrochromic devices has a transfer function differing from at least one other of the plurality of electrochromic devices. The method includes driving each of the plurality of electrochromic devices in accordance with the transfer functions, so as to coordinate tint level or rate of change of tint level across the plurality of electrochromic devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Inventors: Paul Nagel, Wally Barnum, Jason Litzinger, Luis Gomez, Steve Coffin
  • Publication number: 20180144162
    Abstract: A smart driver system for electrochromic devices is provided. The system includes at least one smart driver having one or more processors, memory and a communication module. The at least one smart driver is configurable to couple to or integrate with one or more smart windows having electrochromic devices. The at least one smart driver is configurable to input identification information from a plurality of self-identifying components of a smart window system, including the one or more smart windows, and to self-initialize or self-adjust a plurality of operating parameters for operation of the self-identifying components in accordance with the identification information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Inventors: Wally Barnum, Doug Brainard, Steve Coffin, Paul Nagel
  • Publication number: 20180059520
    Abstract: A wall controller is provided. The wall controller includes a projection screen having an input device and a projector arranged to project a digital image onto the projection screen from the projector, wherein the projector has an optical axis that is non-orthogonal to the projection screen. The wall controller includes a housing having the projection screen mounted thereto at a first end of the housing, the housing having the projector at a second end of the housing. The housing is dimensioned to fit the second end of the housing through an aperture in a first wall, fit the second end into a wall space between the first wall and a second wall, and fit a majority of the first end of the housing into the aperture until the projection screen is parallel to a surface of the first wall and a front portion of the projection screen is flush with, recessed in or extends from the surface of the first wall. The aperture dimensioned to fit the first end of the housing or the front portion of the projection screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Applicant: Kinestral Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Antoine Dubois, John Bogdan, Paul Nagel, Craig Henricksen, Stephen Coffin, Wally Barnum
  • Patent number: 9677327
    Abstract: A smart window-based security system is provided. The system includes a plurality of smart windows, each smart window of the plurality of smart windows having at least one electrochromic window and at least one sensor integrated into the smart window. The plurality of smart windows are coupled together in a system having at least one processor configured to detect a personal or property security threat, such as an intruder or fire based, on information from sensors of the plurality of smart windows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Kinestral Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Nagel, Wally Barnum, Stephen Coffin, Brandon Nichols, Antoine Dubois
  • Publication number: 20170003567
    Abstract: A distributed device control system is provided. The system includes a plurality of windows, each window of the plurality of windows having at least one electrochromic window, a voltage or current driver for the at least one electrochromic window, and a first control system local to the window. The system includes a plurality of window controllers, each window controller configured to couple to one or more of the plurality of windows and having a second control system, for the one or more of the plurality of windows, local to the window controller. The system includes a command and communication device configured to couple to each of the plurality of window controllers, configured to couple to a network, and having a third control system, for the plurality of windows, wherein control of the plurality of windows is distributed across the plurality of windows, the plurality of window controllers, the command and communication device, and a portion of the network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: Paul Nagel, Wally Barnum, Stephen Coffin, Jonathan Ziebarth
  • Patent number: 9470947
    Abstract: A distributed device control system is provided. The system includes a plurality of windows, each window of the plurality of windows having at least one electrochromic window, a voltage or current driver for the at least one electrochromic window, and a first control system local to the window. The system includes a plurality of window controllers, each window controller configured to couple to one or more of the plurality of windows and having a second control system, for the one or more of the plurality of windows, local to the window controller. The system includes a command and communication device configured to couple to each of the plurality of window controllers, configured to couple to a network, and having a third control system, for the plurality of windows, wherein control of the plurality of windows is distributed across the plurality of windows, the plurality of window controllers, the command and communication device, and a portion of the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Kinestral Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Nagel, Wally Barnum, Stephen Coffin, Jonathan Ziebarth
  • Publication number: 20160203403
    Abstract: A cloud learning system for smart windows is provided. The system includes at least one server configured to couple via a network to a plurality of window systems, each of the plurality of window systems having at least one control system and a plurality of windows with electrochromic windows and sensors, wherein the at least one server includes at least one physical server or at least one virtual server implemented using physical computing resources. The at least one server is configured to gather first information from the plurality of window systems, and configured to gather second information from sources on the network and external to the plurality of window systems. The at least one server is configured to form at least one rule or control algorithm usable by a window system, based on the first information and the second information, and configured to download the at least one rule or control algorithm to at least one of the plurality of window systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventors: Paul Nagel, Wally Barnum, Stephen Coffin, Brandon Nichols, Ashish Nagar, Kamil Bojanczik, Jonathan Ziebarth
  • Publication number: 20160202589
    Abstract: A distributed device control system is provided. The system includes a plurality of windows, each window of the plurality of windows having at least one electrochromic window, a voltage or current driver for the at least one electrochromic window, and a first control system local to the window. The system includes a plurality of window controllers, each window controller configured to couple to one or more of the plurality of windows and having a second control system, for the one or more of the plurality of windows, local to the window controller. The system includes a command and communication device configured to couple to each of the plurality of window controllers, configured to couple to a network, and having a third control system, for the plurality of windows, wherein control of the plurality of windows is distributed across the plurality of windows, the plurality of window controllers, the command and communication device, and a portion of the network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventors: Paul Nagel, Wally Barnum, Stephen Coffin, Jonathan Ziebarth
  • Publication number: 20080313566
    Abstract: A home automation network system having an automation controller and a remote control is described. The automation controller can dynamically download extracts from a menu database to the remote control as a user navigates through the menus. Downloading can be based on remote control configuration parameters communicated to the automation controller. Menus can be selected based on display limitations and input control types available on the remote control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Applicant: CONTROL4 CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wally Barnum, Joe Doubek